Mom was visiting a pet store with the thought of buying a sugar glider (pretty stupid, eh?), but she spotted me, an adorable baby Sennie. She asked the store manager about my attributes (of which there are MANY!). It was love at first sight..

I love almonds, sunflower seeds, bananas, and most everything my Mom is eating.

I have a big tree in the pool cage where I can watch other birds. I lay upside-down in my swing and chatter every word I know.

I don't like strangers in my face or hands in my cage; I hate phones and remote controls; and there are times when I just want to be left alone.

She spends lots of time with me, talking and playing, going for walks and just hanging out together. She calls me her 'little world' because she loves me so much.

My latest thing... to make a sneezing noise and then say 'Bless You'. I say that to Mom and Dad when they sneeze, too. Check out my video, "Pepper's somersaults". I crack my Mom up!!.

Be The Bird!.

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Dearest Pepper girl, I sure do miss you-from Jenny...I mostly miss our old chitty chats, and we got to know each other very well! We also learned to love aunt MaryKay, she is such a peach! Happy throwback Thursday to ya all, and like all of you, we have so many wonderful memories from the past, and I suppose some not so good! Our weather is nothing short of fabulous, with the cool in the mornings, and moderate temps in the afternoon! Have a great day dear BC friend, and give my love to all in your Summertime home, see ya tomorrow...

Hi PepperWell, we aren't on FB very much ... just here every night. We do stop in to look at pics. But, we do miss you a lot! Hope you stop in once in a while. I was really busy chewing up my toys again today. I want new ones so I have to work on these. Today was mid 60's and maybe Thursday we will hit 70 degrees! I hope so, I need some patio time. They say that Friday to Tuesday will be summer again ...YAY! I sure want my duck feet to dry out! Hugs Chyna

MIKEY #61671/KAJI #43005 4-10K CLUBHEY PEPPER, SO GLAD YOU DECIDED TO STOP ON BY THE BC AGAIN. A LOT OF OUR FRIENDS HAVE LEFT BC DUE TO SOON IT WILL BE GONE. WE ARE GETTING OUR WEB PAGE SO WE CAN HAVE OUR PARTIES AND NO INTERRUPTIONS. FOR NOW WE ALL HANG OUT ON THE BC COMMUNITY PAGE ON FB.

Hi PepperJuly 14th BOTM POST Hello everybirdie, Zeena here to start of this week with a visit to one of the planet's wonders in the avian field. It was a special request from our dear friend Mr. Kiddo. We need to be very quiet as we visit these unique and highly endangered gems of the bird world. I wish to thank everyone for their votes and input. The kakapo (Maori: kakapo, night parrot), also called owl parrot, is a species of large, flightless, nocturnal, ground-dwelling parrot of the super-family Strigopoidea found only in New Zealand. It has finely blotched yellow-green plumage, a distinct facial disc of sensory, vibrissa-like feathers, a large grey beak, short legs, large feet, and wings and a tail of relatively short length. A combination of traits make it unique among its kind; it is the world's only flightless parrot, the heaviest parrot, nocturnal, herbivorous, visibly sexually dimorphic in body size, has a low basal metabolic rate, no male parental care, and is the only parrot to have a polygynous breeding system. It is also possibly one of the world's longest-living birds. Its anatomy typifies the tendency of a bird's evolution on oceanic islands, with few predators and abundant food: a generally robust physique, quick movement efficiency at the expense of flight abilities & reduced wing muscles, . Like many other New Zealand bird species, the kakapo was historically important to the Maori, the indigenous people of New Zealand. It was hunted and used for both for its meat as a food source and for its feathers . It was also kept as a pet. The Kakapo lays one to three eggs in a ground concave usually only raising one or two chicks per breeding season. The species is in a critically endangered position due to poaching, habitat distraction and the introduction of predators such as feral cats. Man's infringement on their breeding territory is causing a drastic and rapid decrease in numbers with only 6 chicks in 2012 surviving to maturity. A key part of the Recovery Plan is the supplementary feeding of females. The kakapo breeds only once every two to five years, when the Dacrydium cupressinum (rimu), produces protein-rich fruit and seeds. Observations of the relationship between intermittent breeding and the plant's mast year help biologists choose which suitable supplementary foods to increase kakapo breeding frequency. In 1989, six preferred foods (apples, sweet potatoes, almonds, Brazil nuts, sunflower seeds and walnuts) were supplied to 12 feeding stations. Males and females ate the supplied foods, and females nested on Little Barrier Island in the summers of 1989–91 for the first time since 1982, although nesting success was low. In March 2014, with the kakapo population having increased to 126, it sits on the verge of extinction. As man's awareness of their plight becomes known it is hoped that Conservation efforts will see a greater success in breeding these wonders of the Parrot World. with love and scritches Zeena 255116

Hi PepperHello to all my BC friends, Zeena here with today's BOTM POST/ Today we stop for a visit in New Zealand's lush forests to meet the endangered, but beautiful New Zealand Pigeon. Thank you to all who shared their feelings regarding the cross species Galah Too and Cockatiel. The hatching of this specimen may answers years of debt over the relationship between Cockatoos and Cockatiel.

The New Zealand pigeon, arboreal fruit-pigeon found in forests from Northland to Stewart Island/Rakiura, ranging in habitats from coastal to mountainous .[6 The general morphology is that of a typical pigeon, in that it has a relatively small head, a straight soft-based bill and loosely attached feathers. It also displays typical pigeon behaviour, which includes drinking by suction, a wing-threat display, hitting with the wing when threatened, a diving display flight, a 'bowing' display, ritualized preening and 'billing' during courtship. New Zealand pigeons build flimsy, shallow, twiggy nests and feed crop milk to hatchlings.

The mainland New Zealand pigeon grows to some 51 centimetres (20 in) in length and 650 grams (23 oz) in weight, compared to 55 centimetres (22 in) and 800 grams (28 oz) for the Chatham Island variant.[8] The head, throat and wings are generally a shiny green-purple colour, but with a bronze tinge to the feathers. The breast is typically white and the bill red with an orange tip. The feet and eyes are red. Juveniles have a similar coloration but are generally paler with dull colours for the beak, eyes and feet and a shorter tail.

The New Zealand Pigeon breeds in spring and fall, dependent on the availability of fruit, especially figs. They eat both the fruit and leaves as well as flowers from several species of trees, and plants.New Zealand pigeons nest in trees, laying a single egg, in a flimsy nest constructed of a few twigs thrown together. The egg is incubated for 28–29 days and the young bird takes another 30–45 days to fledge. In seasons of plentiful fruit the pigeons can successfully nest up to four times.

The Department of Conservation is involved in educating the public about the plight of the New Zealand pigeon and encouraging local initiatives to save it. In Northland, the Department has been working with local iwi in an attempt to curb illegal poaching by educating young Maori about the disastrous effect this activity is having on the birds' survival rate. On the Chatham Islands, landowners have helped protect the habitat by creating reserves and fencing remnant bush to keep out stock. Numbers have recovered from a low of about 40 birds in the 1980s to around 525 in 2013.

Dear Queen PepperCongrats on winning BOTD today! Here's a basket of almonds, sunflower seeds, bananas, and some of my mom's cooking for you to enjoy while you're in the castle with King Pepper! Hey, that's cool! King and Queen Pepper!Heheee!!! Have a greyt day! Luv, Spot♥ PS. Happy belated hatchday!

Congratulations on BOTD Queen PepperJuly 12th BOTM POST Hi everybirdie Zeena here with an interesting article we encountered while studying on the various Cockatoo species. Real or Hoax? We look for your thoughts on this. I know Spot Le' Blaze-atiel will be happy, it gives hope to him with his fiancee Miss Puffin. HYBRID parrots are nothing new, with various matings occurring over the years, some deliberate, some accidental.

But the latest hybrid that I’ve come across is really incredible, with the environment and the circumstances under which it was bred truly amazing. Nikki, who lives in New South Wales, has bred a galah-cockatiel cross, which as far as I can ascertain is a world first. She had a 12-year-old male galah in an aviary with five female cockatiels and six male cockatiels. Three pairs of cockatiels were breeding happily and Nikki got the shock of her life when she walked past the cage one day and saw a decidedly different-looking bird sitting on a perch. “It was a young bird and obviously a cross between the galah and a light yellow coloured six-year-old cockatiel, with the parent birds definitely bonded and together all the time,” she said.

“The young bird is around 25 per cent larger than a cockatiel, with a galah’s body shape that’s grey all over.

“He has an orange galah-style crest, dusty orange chest, deep orange cheek patches, with wings more like a cockatiel in colour but the shape of a galah’s wings.” Joseph Forshaw, the world renowned parrot expert and author of the classic Australian Parrots book, said he had never heard of a galah crossing with a cockatiel anywhere in the world.

“I have never heard of a cockatiel crossing with anything, although I have heard of people trying to cross them with other parrots,” Mr Forshaw said.

He said "recent DNA tests had indicated that cockatiels are related to Australia’s black cockatoos. I guess the fact that the cockatiel has bred with a member of the cockatoo family proves conclusively that it is a part of that family,”

Avian vet Tim Oldfield was skeptical when told of the mutation, but changed his tune when shown the photo. “I have to admit it looks exactly like a cockatiel galah cross, quite amazing,” he said.

The woman who bred the bird took it inside to hand-feed it, intending to make it a pet.

“He’s very quiet and friendly and I’ve been offered $15,000 for him, but people have told me he’s worth a lot more because he’s the only one in the world,” she said. “Three of the logs were used by the cockatiels and the other box was used by the parents of the hybrid baby,” she said."The logs are impossible for a Galah to fit inside easily. There is no other explanation to his appearance in the aviary.

If this indeed is a true cross, it answers many questions of the relationship of our Cockatoo species to the Cockatiels. Whether the baby is fertile and able to reproduce was not indicated. article from 2006.

Hello Pepper~~How are you!! I am so very thrilled to see you in that spotlight box! Congratulations!! Your royal portrait is now hanging in the gallery on the calendar page for all to admire!! I hope all is well down there in sunny Florida! It's been really hot here! It's our one week of summer every year! Yep! Just one week of really hot! I can live with that!!! Enjoy your day sweetie! Love, hugs and a vote ~ Sugar

Congrat's on being BOTD and a Happy Belated Hatchday. It's Cheyenne, the Meyer's Parrot. Did you know that I'm getting married to Jedi and my Brother, Apache is marrying his Sister, Snowflake. The Double Ceremony takes place on Sept. 20th and we're hoping to have it at the Castle. We don't know who to ask for it but we'll figure it out. Everybirdie is invited. It should be a blast! Anyway, I hope you have as much fun in the Castle as my Flock & I did when we were there. Here's a vote for you, cutie. Bye for now.

Winghugs, Cheyenne P.S. I like your pictures and see the Plane that you have, my Brother, Parker has one "Too".

Hi, Queen PepperCongratulations on BOTD. Here's a vote in celebration. Such a fun way to eggstend the hatchday festivities with a day as royalty. Have a wonderful day at the Castle with King Pepper. Wing hugs and beak kisses, Pearl and Silver.

Hello Pepper~I hope your day was just wonderful! I had a lot of fun supervising chores around here! I think maybe I had more fun than mom did but she is happy that I am happy!

I have been checking out the other animal channel sites and it looks likes the Cat channel is getting changed on January 1st instead of March 1st. Cori and Boo Boo gave me a heads up about this. There was a blog on the small animal channel so they know. but there doesn't seem to be any blogs on the Horse or Dog channel. I don't know if they are going to be left alone or if they just don't know yet.

I am so sad we are going to lose all of this but I hope we will all stay in touch, either with Facebook or email. I am grateful for every single minute I have had visiting with friends, playing baseball and all the other fun things we do here! To think! This all came into my life because mom and I were looking for pictures of birds for me to look at!!

Hello Pepper~Sugar waddles in dragging her Hello Kitty Karaoke machine behind her. She plugs it in and belts out a Christmas Tune~~~~

"Christmas is coming I don't think I can wait! Please tell Santa Bird that he can't be late! Please tell Santa Bird that he can't be late!

Christmas is coming This parrot's being good! Hoping Santa Bird brings some toys of wood! Hoping Santa Bird brings some toys of wood!"

My family and I want to wish you a very Merry Christmas. It looks like it will be the last one we will be sharing on the BC but it will not be the last one we will share! We have our wonderful memories of our time together here and we will find a way to continue our friendships. It is not over yet and it may be months before it is. My email is sugarmcclelland@gmail.com ~ Yes! I have my own email! Mom's email is eileenmc2@hotmail.com I know most of you already have this but if you don't, please copy it down and feel free to email us anytime!

All of your votes are deeply appreciated. If I don’t thank you every day its only because there is only so much time in one day.

Back to Jupiter to see the rings now. It was believed that Jupiter did not have rings like Saturn but it was found that it has very dark ones. The rings were discovered by Voyager 1 in 1979 on its way through our solar system. Later Voyager 2, the Galileo orbiter and the New Horizons sent back pictures of the ring and moons in February & March 2007.

There are 3 main sections named Halo, Main and Gossamer. There is really only 1 ring with no discernable separation.

Most of the stuff in the rings is dust & very small rocks that come from collisions with the moons. A couple of the moons are within the area of the ring. These moons make notches in the rings as the dust & rocks are attracted by the moons gravity wells

Ok, we have to go now. Back to Earth and a calm atmosphere we can stand up in and breathe without a space suite.

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